Here they are: the three covers of the 2016 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue, featuring Ronda Rousey, Ashley Graham, and Hailey Clauson.
SI unveiled the three covers during a special broadcast on TNT ahead of the issue’s release. This is the first time SI has produced multiple covers for its Swimsuit issue. In choosing Graham (who is often labeled a “plus-size model,” although she doesn’t specifically present herself that way) and Rousey, the issue also marks a departure from the issue’s more typically pinup-girl-styled past and into a more physically diverse roster.
“It’s a real honor being part of such a historic issue that really pays homage to different body types of women and not promoting just one cookie cutter image for every woman, but showing that the healthiest version of every body type is the sexiest version out there,” Rousey said in a press release.
“I didn’t even know why I was up here,” a visibly stunned Rousey said at the reveal, her voice cracking. “I thought I was in the wrong spot, to be honest.”
“What defines beauty today? The truth is, times have changed and one size does not fit all,” Swimsuit issue editor MJ Day said in a press release. “Our position on beauty is well known—healthy, curvy, vivacious and bold. It’s not a size. The three cover models—Hailey Clauson, Ronda Rousey and Ashley Graham—demonstrate that…. So we don’t have just one cover, because beauty doesn’t take just one form.”
That said, the rest of the roster is a little more of what you’d expect from SI Swim: Victoria’s Secret model Lily Aldridge, supermodel Hannah Davis, and star athletes Lindsey Vonn and Caroline Wozniacki all make appearances.
